Page 64 - Cherished Memories of Yesteryears - A Collection of Grandparents' Life Experiences

If there is one word to describe
my grandmother, it would be
“hardworking”. Grandmother was
born in March 1953. She was the
eldest of seven siblings and came
from a low-income family living in a
kampung near Changi.

She attended Red Swastika Primary
School, and continued her secondary
school education at Changkat
Secondary School. All her siblings,
including her, went to the same school.
My great-grandfather was not fond
of my grandmother. For some reason,
he favoured her younger siblings.
Tears streamed down her face as she
related the story to me. Knowing that
her father did not love her must have
hurt her. “Overcoming hardships and persevering
Grandmother got her first job when through hard times.”
she was in primary school. After her
secondary school exams, she worked full-time at a I find this story interesting as it was unbelievable
factory and sewed clothes. One day, she was doing that young children had to work with dangerous
machinery work and accidentally cut off her tools back then. I felt heartbroken to hear about
index fingernail. Crimson blood flowed out of her her experiences. I realised children these days
finger, and she grimaced in pain. Her finger had have a much more comfortable lifestyle than
bled a lot of blood, but fortunately, her colleagues Grandmother did during her time. She had to work
sent her to the nearest hospital. hard to support and earn money for her family.
Teenagers can do jobs that are easier compared to
Hearing the story of what happened after the the past. Despite having difficulty with her finger,
finger nail incident might make others cringe grandmother continued to work and did not give
in disguise, but it was something that had up. I learned that one should not give up easily; her
happened. The surgeon tried to attach her nail perseverance amazes me.
back to her finger. Due to the delay in sending my
grandmother to the hospital, the surgeon could not My grandmother’s wish for me is not to give up
attach her nail back. Since then, she had a missing easily and that I should always work towards my
fingernail on her hand and could not work for two goal despite the challenges I might face. Despite her
years as she had to wait for her wound to heal. And difficulties, my grandmother firmly believes that
even though there were some challenges that she “hard work will lead to success”. Life can be good
had encountered in life, Grandmother managed to when we do what is right.
overcome them.
Leong Kai Jing, Claire
Primary 6.5 (2022)

60 Cherished Memories of Yesteryears